Private Internet Access Review 2026
Private Internet Access · editorial score
9.3 / 10
Privacy and logging30% of the total9.0 / 10
- YesPublished no-logs policy covers browsing activity and connection IP addressesPIA's privacy policy says it does not collect or store browsing history, connected content, user IPs or connection time stamps, and keeps zero user logs.privateinternetaccess.com/privacy-policy · privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features/no-… · checked 2026-11-144 / 4
- PartlyIndependent audits of the no-logs policy in the last 3 years: 3 or more years 4 points, 2 years 3, 1 year 2No-logs audits in 2024 and 2025.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/privacy-audit · privateinternetaccess.com/blog/security-au… · privateinternetaccess.com/blog/security-au… · checked 2026-11-143 / 4
- YesRAM-only servers on every server, per the providerPIA says it only uses RAM-only servers and never writes anything to hard drives.privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features/no-… · checked 2026-11-142 / 2
Security features20% of the total8.0 / 10
- YesKill switch in both desktop and mobile appsThe kill switch is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS; on iOS it applies only when the connection drops without intervention.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/understandi… · privateinternetaccess.com/blog/pia-tunnelv… · privateinternetaccess.com/download/windows… · checked 2026-11-142 / 2
- YesWireGuard or a WireGuard-based protocol of its ownPIA lists WireGuard and OpenVPN.privateinternetaccess.com/download/windows… · checked 2026-11-122 / 2
- YesSplit tunneling by appSplit tunneling is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features/spl… · checked 2026-11-122 / 2
- NoIndependent security audits in the last 3 years: apps and infrastructure both 2 points, one of them 1No app or infrastructure security audit is listed since 2023.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/privacy-audit · privateinternetaccess.com/blog/security-au… · privateinternetaccess.com/blog/security-au… · checked 2026-11-140 / 2
- YesOpen-source client apps: all five main apps 2 points, at least one app or the protocol code it uses 1PIA says all of its apps and clients are open source and available on its GitHub page.privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features/ope… · privateinternetaccess.com/blog/security-au… · checked 2026-11-142 / 2
Transparency and incidents20% of the total10.0 / 10
- YesOwner or parent company stated publiclyPIA's blog names KAPE as the parent company it shares with CyberGhost and ZenMate.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/private-int… · privateinternetaccess.com/privacy-policy · privateinternetaccess.com/blog/the-continu… · checked 2026-11-143 / 3
- YesAt least one audit report published in fullDeloitte's 2025 report is a PDF on PIA's file host that opens without logging in; the 2024 report needs a PIA account login.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/privacy-audit · privateinternetaccess.com/blog/security-au… · privateinternetaccess.com/blog/security-au… · checked 2026-11-142 / 2
- 2 checks not scored yet
Apps and devices15% of the total10.0 / 10
- YesOfficial apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux (1 point each)The platform list names apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.privateinternetaccess.com/download · privateinternetaccess.com/download/linux-vpn · checked 2026-11-135 / 5
- YesSimultaneous connections: unlimited 3 points, 10 or more 2, 5 to 9 1The provider lists no limit on simultaneous connections.privateinternetaccess.com · checked 2026-11-133 / 3
- YesOfficial app or guide for a router or a TV (Fire TV, Android TV)The platform list names Android TV, Apple TV, routers and smart TVs.privateinternetaccess.com/download · checked 2026-11-122 / 2
Price and terms15% of the total10.0 / 10
- YesRefund period of 30 days or moreThe refund period is 30 days for new subscribers.privateinternetaccess.com · checked 2026-11-134 / 4
- YesA verified price states the renewal priceA verified price states what each renewal costs.privateinternetaccess.com/buy-vpn-online · checked 2026-11-133 / 3
- YesA monthly plan or a free planA verified one-month plan is listed.privateinternetaccess.com/buy-vpn-online · checked 2026-11-133 / 3
Editorial score based on published features and policies. Speed and streaming tests are not scored. How we score.
Private Internet Access is a VPN service run from the United States by PIA Private Internet Access, Inc., which PIA says shares a parent company with CyberGhost and ZenMate. This review covers its privacy record, security features, apps and prices, using the figures PIA publishes itself, its audit reports, and other sites’ tests, credited to those sites. This review makes no claims about speed or streaming.
What does PIA offer at a glance?
Private Internet Access at a glance
- Servers
- —
- Countries
- 113privateinternetaccess.com · checked 2026-11-13
- Devices per plan
- Unlimitedprivateinternetaccess.com · checked 2026-11-13
- Money-back
- 30 days (new subscribers)privateinternetaccess.com · checked 2026-11-13
- Jurisdiction
- United States (PIA says it is based in the United States; the corporate entity is PIA Private Internet Access, Inc., Denver, Colorado)privateinternetaccess.com/about-us · privateinternetaccess.com/privacy-policy · checked 2026-11-14
- Owner
- PIA's blog says PIA shares a parent company, KAPE, with CyberGhost and ZenMate (post of 25 August 2022); its privacy policy refers to "anyone at Kape Technologies". PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. is the controller named in the privacy policyprivateinternetaccess.com/blog/private-int… · privateinternetaccess.com/privacy-policy · privateinternetaccess.com/blog/the-continu… · checked 2026-11-14
- Latest audit
- 2025Deloitte Audit Romania · VPN configuration, management systems, incident-response practices and the token-based dedicated IP technology against PIA's no-logs policy (ISAE 3000 (Revised); report titled Independent Limited Assurance Report, December 2025); the report is a PDF that opens without logging inprivateinternetaccess.com/blog/security-au… · checked 2026-11-14
- RAM-only servers
- Yes (PIA says: "We only use RAM-only servers and never write anything to hard drives")privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features/no-… · checked 2026-11-14
- Protocols
- WireGuard and OpenVPN (Windows app)privateinternetaccess.com/download/windows… · checked 2026-11-12
- Logging policy
- Says it does not log: its privacy policy says "We DO NOT collect or store browsing history, connected content, user IPs, connection time stamps" and "We collect and retain zero user logs." Users who opt in to reports send anonymized connection events, protocol used and device identifiers (privacy policy read 2026-11-14)privateinternetaccess.com/privacy-policy · privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-features/no-… · checked 2026-11-14
- Lowest price
- $2.03/moUS prices; prices and currencies vary by countryPIA VPN, 40 months, Black Friday Early Access Offerprivateinternetaccess.com/buy-vpn-online · checked 2026-11-13
+ Pros
- PIA’s privacy policy says it collects and retains zero user logs, and an outside firm has examined its servers against that policy
- PIA says it uses only RAM-only servers and never writes anything to hard drives
- PIA says its apps and clients are open source and open to inspection on GitHub
- Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, plus Chrome and Firefox extensions, Android TV, Apple TV, consoles, routers and smart TVs
- WireGuard and OpenVPN are both on the protocol list
- Split tunneling is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android
− Cons
- The kill switch is not the same everywhere: on iOS it applies only if the connection drops without intervention and does not block traffic after a manual disconnect, and PIA says its Apple TV and Android TV apps have no kill switch option
- Only the latest audit report opens without logging in; the earlier one is inside the PIA account, and the first audit’s post names no place to read the report
- PIA’s blog says its parent company is Kape, which also owns CyberGhost and ZenMate, so it is not an independent company
- The company is based in the United States, which matters to readers who weigh where a VPN’s legal home is
How much does PIA cost, and what about refunds?
| Plan | First term | Per month | First term total | Then renews at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIA VPN | 40 months | $2.031 | — | $81.20 every 3 years |
| PIA VPN | 1 year | $3.99 | $47.88 | $47.88 a year |
| PIA VPN | 1 month | $11.95 | $11.95 | $11.95 a month |
US prices; prices and currencies vary by country.
PIA sells a single plan, billed monthly, yearly or for a longer multi-year term. The prices above were read from PIA’s pricing page by an editor on a US connection. The longest term is a sale: it is labelled with its promotion name, and it renews on a multi-year cycle, so look at the renewal column before you pay rather than the headline monthly price.
For the shorter terms the renewal price is shown next to the first-term price, so you can see what you will be charged when the term ends. The refund period is in the card above, and it applies to new subscribers. If the table says “Re-verifying”, an offer has aged out and is waiting for a fresh check.
Who owns PIA, and where is it based?
PIA says it is based in the United States, and the company named in its privacy policy as the data controller is PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. of Denver, Colorado. PIA’s own blog says it shares a parent company, Kape, with CyberGhost and ZenMate. That is PIA’s description of its ownership.
A company’s location tells you which country’s law can reach it, not how it behaves under that law. The more useful questions are what the company says it keeps, what outside firms have confirmed, and what has happened when authorities came knocking.
Does PIA keep logs, and has it been audited?
PIA says it does not log. Its privacy policy states that it does not collect or store browsing history, connected content, user IPs or connection time stamps, and that it collects and retains zero user logs. Users who opt in to reports send anonymized connection events, the protocol used and device identifiers. All of that is PIA’s own account of its policy.
The outside check is the audit record:
- 2025Deloitte Audit Romania · VPN configuration, management systems, incident-response practices and the token-based dedicated IP technology against PIA's no-logs policy (ISAE 3000 (Revised); report titled Independent Limited Assurance Report, December 2025); the report is a PDF that opens without logging inprivateinternetaccess.com/blog/security-au… · assets-cms.privateinternetaccess.com/files/r… · checked 2026-11-14
- 2024Deloitte Audit Romania · VPN server network, network and incident management systems and the token-based dedicated IP system against PIA's internal privacy policies; PIA says the full report is available in the PIA account (login needed)privateinternetaccess.com/blog/security-au… · checked 2026-11-14
- 2022Deloitte Audit Romania · VPN server network and management systems: server configurations align, as of 30 June 2022, with PIA's internal privacy policies and are not designed to identify users or pinpoint their activities (ISAE 3000 (Revised)); the post names no place to read the reportprivateinternetaccess.com/blog/privacy-audit · checked 2026-11-14
Each of these is an assurance engagement by an outside firm that checked PIA’s server configurations against its own privacy policy. That is independent evidence in a way PIA’s policy page is not. The scope in each case is the VPN servers and the systems that manage them, so none of these is a penetration test of the apps. Treat what each report says as the firm’s finding as of its own date: an audit shows a service as the auditor found it, and it does not cover what the company does between audits or outside the scope. Only the latest report can be read without an account.
What security features does PIA have?
PIA lists WireGuard and OpenVPN on its Windows app page. It says all of its apps and clients are open source and open to inspection on its GitHub page; the page does not name each platform, so check the list there before you rely on it for a given app.
The kill switch blocks your traffic if the VPN connection drops. PIA says its standard kill switch is on by default on Windows, macOS and Linux, and that Android and iOS have an in-app toggle. On iOS it applies only if the connection drops without intervention and does not block traffic after a manual disconnect. PIA also offers an Advanced Kill Switch that blocks traffic while the VPN is off; its macOS and Linux app pages name it. PIA says its Apple TV and Android TV apps have no kill switch option.
Split tunneling lets some apps skip the VPN. PIA lists it for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
PIA says it uses only RAM-only servers.
PIA’s own blog also carries a post on its response to the TunnelVision attack, which is one reason the kill switch details above are worth reading before you choose a platform.
How does PIA’s server network look?
The server and country counts in the card above are PIA’s own figures, from its homepage. For what PIA offers in a particular country, see our country guides:
- PIA’s servers in the US
- PIA’s servers in the UK
- PIA’s servers in Australia
- PIA’s servers in France
- PIA’s servers in Singapore
- PIA in India
- PIA in South Korea
Which devices does PIA work on?
PIA lists apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, extensions for Chrome and Firefox, and support for Android TV, Apple TV, consoles, routers and smart TVs. The number of devices one subscription covers is in the card above. The apps differ in a few ways:
- Windows: PIA lists separate app versions for Intel and AMD processors and for ARM processors.
- Mac: the app page lists a minimum macOS version, and the Mac App Store version needs a newer one; the page does not mention Apple silicon.
- Linux: there is an app with a window plus command-line control, installed from a file, for several named distributions.
- iPhone and iPad: the app is on the US App Store and has its own kill switch behavior, described above.
See our guides for Windows, Mac and Linux for how PIA compares with other apps on those systems.
How does PIA do with streaming, torrenting and speed?
Results from outside tests appear below, each credited and dated:
What did other testers find?
These are other sites' tests, not ours. Each one is credited and linked, and nothing is merged or averaged.
7 sites · 48 results
| Source | Latest | What they tested |
|---|---|---|
| Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Nov 2026updated | streamingspeedleaks |
| CNET (opens in a new tab) | Oct 2026updated | streamingspeedleaks |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Oct 2026updated | streamingtorrentingleaks |
| Tom's Guide (opens in a new tab) | Aug 2026updated | speedtorrenting |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Jun 2026updated | streamingleaks |
| CyberInsider (opens in a new tab) | Feb 2026updated | streaming |
| Security.org (opens in a new tab) | Dec 2025updated | torrenting |
See all 48 results from 7 sitesHide the 48 individual results
Streaming · In the US
Safelyo
Netflix US played in HD on a streaming-optimized US East server
Top10VPN
PIA no longer unblocked the US Netflix library; the tester calls the streaming result weak
vpnMentor
The US Netflix library opened
CyberInsider
Netflix opened on the first try on PIA's US servers and streamed smoothly without buffering, though the site notes that streaming has been hit or miss for PIA in past tests
Safelyo
Hulu US worked only on the streaming-optimized server
CNET
On desktop, Hulu detected the VPN and blocked the content
Top10VPN
Hulu US worked
vpnMentor
Hulu worked
Safelyo
Prime Video US was blocked on the servers they tested
Top10VPN
Prime Video US worked
Safelyo
Disney+ US played in HD
Safelyo
Max US played in HD
Top10VPN
HBO Max US worked
CyberInsider
HBO Max blocked a standard US server, then played in 4K after a switch to a US server optimized for streaming
Streaming · In the UK
Safelyo
Netflix UK worked but dropped once mid-stream and needed a server change
Top10VPN
Netflix UK did not work
vpnMentor
Netflix UK streamed and worked right away
Top10VPN
Disney+ UK worked
Safelyo
BBC iPlayer worked, live and on demand
Top10VPN
BBC iPlayer worked
vpnMentor
BBC iPlayer worked
Safelyo
ITVX worked on some servers only
Top10VPN
ITVX worked
Streaming · In Canada
Safelyo
Netflix Canada was among the 10 of 13 libraries that worked
vpnMentor
Netflix Canada streamed and worked right away
Top10VPN
DAZN Canada did not work
Streaming · In Australia
Safelyo
Netflix Australia was among the 10 of 13 libraries that worked
Streaming · country not stated by the source
Safelyo
Netflix worked in 10 of the 13 libraries they tested; Spain, Brazil and Singapore were blocked
CNET
On desktop, Netflix was the only service that partly worked, and it often detected the VPN even on streaming-optimized servers in several countries; on Apple TV and Fire TV Stick it was hit or miss
Top10VPN
Only 4 Netflix libraries opened; where Netflix detected the VPN it showed Netflix Originals only
vpnMentor
Netflix also streamed in the UK, Canada, Japan, Germany, Sweden and Denmark, and worked right away in all their tests
CNET
On desktop, Amazon Prime Video detected the VPN and blocked the content; on Apple TV and Fire TV Stick the reviewer could watch it
vpnMentor
Amazon Prime Video worked
CNET
On desktop, Disney+ detected the VPN and blocked the content; on Apple TV and Fire TV Stick the reviewer could watch it
vpnMentor
Disney+ worked
vpnMentor
HBO Max worked
CNET
On desktop, Peacock detected the VPN and blocked the content
vpnMentor
Paramount+ worked
Speed
Safelyo
On WireGuard over a fiber connection in Vietnam, an average of 200.26 Mbps download across 5 server locations, keeping 23.0% of an 872.17 Mbps no-VPN baseline; the US server gave 351.03 Mbps, or 40.2%, and Singapore was the slowest at 27.20 Mbps, or 3.1%
CNET
An overall 49.2% average speed loss in their 2026 tests, and on Windows over Wi-Fi the speed to a Germany server swung between 62 and 248 Mbps on a 575 Mbps connection
Tom's Guide
On their 10 Gbps test line they measured 419 Mbps on WireGuard for a local connection and 256 Mbps on a UK-US link
Torrenting
Top10VPN
Average download bitrate of 9.6 MiB/s, a 4% loss; downloading the complete works of William Shakespeare took 4 minutes 40 seconds on their WiFi and 5 minutes through a PIA server
Tom's Guide
Their review reports strong results for P2P connections, and notes that every server supports P2P and that port forwarding is still available
Security.org
They found P2P support on all of its servers, with a SOCKS5 proxy and port forwarding among the tools that can boost torrent speeds
Leaks and kill switch
Safelyo
No leaks in the DNS, IP and WebRTC tests across multiple server locations. The review also notes that the kill switch does not fully protect iOS against TunnelVision, and that the Apple TV and Android TV apps have no kill switch
CNET
The kill switch worked as expected and split tunneling worked on every platform they tested, with no leaks detected
Top10VPN
PIA's own IPv4, IPv6 and DNS leak protection stopped leaks in the reviewer's tests, and PIA offers an advanced kill switch that keeps the device offline even after the VPN app is closed
vpnMentor
PIA's own protection hid the real IP address through extensive testing, and the review reports it working on all of its protocols and encryption levels
These sites tested on different days, from different places and on different servers, so their results cannot be compared line by line. Where they disagree, as some do on US streaming, read both rather than picking one. Read the streaming results by country, and treat each one as that site’s finding, not ours.
Have we spot checked PIA ourselves?
| Our spot check | Result |
|---|---|
| Streaming playback on a US server | No spot check yet |
A spot check is our own: run in the US on a US server, five minutes of continuous playback to pass, with no fixed schedule. Results for other countries come from other sites' published tests.
What are the alternatives to PIA?
- NordVPN – choose it if you want to compare another provider’s published audit reports. Read our NordVPN review.
- Proton VPN – choose it if you want audit reports that Proton publishes for anyone to read. Read our Proton VPN review.
How did we check these facts?
Every figure on this page comes from PIA’s own website, its blog and its published audit reports. Our editors check each price themselves as a US buyer would see it, and re-check prices every two weeks and other figures at least every four months; prices and currencies vary by country. Where PIA does not publish a figure, we leave it out rather than estimate it. The test results we quote are other sites’ published tests, credited by name and dated, and our own spot checks are labeled as ours. The verdict, pros and cons are our editors’ judgment based on these facts.
FAQ
Is PIA safe to use?
PIA lists a kill switch for its desktop and mobile apps, and an outside firm has examined its servers against its privacy policy. Against that, the kill switch behaves differently on iOS, and PIA says its Apple TV and Android TV apps have none.
Does PIA keep logs?
PIA says it does not collect or store browsing history, connected content, user IPs or connection time stamps, and that it keeps zero user logs. Users who opt in to reports send anonymized connection events, the protocol used and device identifiers. An outside firm has examined its server configurations against that policy.
Where is PIA based, and who owns it?
PIA says it is based in the United States, and its privacy policy names PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. as the controller. PIA’s blog says it shares a parent company, Kape, with CyberGhost and ZenMate.
How many devices can I use with one PIA subscription?
The number of devices one subscription covers is in the card above, as PIA lists it. PIA lists apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, among other platforms.
How much does PIA cost after the first term?
After the first term the price renews at the renewal price shown in the price table. The longest term is a sale, so check its renewal price and renewal cycle before you pay, and put a reminder in your calendar a few weeks before the term ends.